Summit County’s Third District Court was packed Monday as family, friends, media and spectators filed in to witness the first day of the murder trial of Kouri Richins, nearly three years after her arrest. Jurors — six men, six women, all white and predominantly older — heard competing narr atives explaining the death of her husband, Eric Richins, on March 4, 2022, with prosecutors alleging the Kamas mother of three fatally poisoned him with fentanyl, motivated by financial desperation, while the defense argued there’s an unresolved mystery surrounding that night that hasn’t been fully explained. After Judge Richard Mrazik formally swore jurors in, he instructed them not to form conclusions until the end of the five-week trial, when all of the evidence is presented, and that Kouri is presumed innocent. It’s up to prosecutors from the Summit County Attorney’s Office to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Defense attorney Kathy Nester framed the case as one where the same facts could lead to different conclusions, urging the jury to keep an open mind without rushing to judgment. She compared it to the famous optical illusion “My Wife and My Mother-in-Law,” telling the jury that if they can see both a “witch” and a “widow” in Kouri at the end of the trial, then that’s reasonable doubt.  Chief Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth laid out a different theory, accusing Kouri of poisoning her husband for financial gain and personal freedom. Bloodworth detailed the evening of March 3, 2022, when the couple was celebrating a business deal with a cocktail in their bedroom. Summit County Chief Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth returns to his seat during the first day of the murder trial of Kouri Richins on Monday. Credit: AP Photo/Spenser Heaps, Pool The two sides agree that the drinks were consumed around 9 p.m., and that Kouri left the room at about 9:30 p.m. to sleep with her son, who was having a night terror. She ultimately returned to the room around 3 a.m. and found Eric cold and unresponsive. Prosecutors allege that Kouri did not immediately dial 911 based on cellphone data, though the call was eventually made about 20 minutes later. Paramedics pronounced Eric dead just before 4 a.m. on March 4, estimating he had been deceased for a few hours. Bloodworth told jurors this was not an isolated incident.  Kouri is also charged with attempting to poison her husband on Valentine’s Day with a drug-laced sandwich. Prosecutors allege that weeks before Eric’s death, Kouri forged his signature to fraudulently take out a life insurance policy, and she submitted a fraudulent claim weeks after his death. In addition to the first-degree felony murder and attempted homicide charges, Kouri also faces two charges of false insurance claims, each a second-degree felony, and forgery, a third-degree felony.  Prosecutors alleged Kouri was drowning in debt — owing $4.5 million to more than 20 lenders — and was facing financial collapse because of her real estate business. Bloodworth pointed to evidence that will be presented later in the trial that shows more than 200 overdraft transactions totaling over $300,000 in the months leading up to Eric’s death. He also said that Kouri was scheduled to close on a $3.2 million unfinished mansion in Midway, the reason for their celebration, on the day Eric died, but one that prosecutors said she couldn’t afford.  Bloodworth also said Kouri was “chronically unhappy in her marriage,” presenting text messages with her boyfriend discussing divorcing Eric and starting a future together. “The evidence will prove that Kouri Richins had the means, motive and opportunity to murder Eric Richins,” Bloodworth said in his opening statement, adding that the evidence “proves no one else did.”  Meanwhile, defense attorneys argued there are too many unanswered questions about what happened during those six hours, when sometime before his death Eric ingested a fatal dose of fentanyl.  After four years, Nester said no one knows how. No fentanyl was found in the bedroom, the copperware used for the drinks was never tested and the death certificate still lists the manner of death as “unknown.” The defense maintains that Kouri did not kill her husband. Nester’s opening statement began by playing the 911 call Kouri made the night Eric died. Kouri is heard sniffling, saying that her husband isn’t breathing and he’s cold. The dispatcher asked her to do CPR, and Kouri said she didn’t know how but seemed willing. She stopped the recording and said, “Those are the sounds of a wife becoming a widow.” Nester emphasized that Eric was successful, healthy and celebrating major milestones in his business and family life. Nester conceded the couple had endured their fair share of marital difficulties and considered separating, but they went to counseling and decided to stay together. The defense also rejected the theory that Kouri attempted to kill her husband on Valentine’s Day, characterizing it as an allergic reaction. Nester said investigators found a pill bottle for pain medication that was prescribed in 2016 in a nightstand in the Richins’ bedroom. She said people who use the medication can sometimes experience similar symptoms that Eric did. Kathy Nester, a defense attorney for Kouri Richins, displays a pill bottle while delivering her opening statement in the murder trial on Monday in Third District Court. Credit: AP Photo/Spenser Heaps, Pool Nester implied it was possible Eric may have obtained drugs independently, noting that he had recently traveled to Mexico, and he experienced ongoing physical pain from past injuries and Lyme disease. The defense also suggested Kouri could have purchased pain pills for Eric at his request, but said they did not contain fentanyl.  After opening statements, the first witness was called.  Prosecutors called Gene Richins, Eric’s father, to the stand. Gene spoke about his son’s character, describing him as a family man who was hardworking and devoted to his three boys. He also testified to receiving the early morning phone call that Eric wasn’t breathing and rushing to the family’s home, where first responders were already present. He did not recall speaking with Kouri much when he arrived.  Eric’s sister, Katie Richins-Benson, was called next. She delivered emotional testimony about having a close relationship with Eric. She also described arriving at the home and observing Kouri as calm and businesslike, noting that she seemed put together. Katie said Kouri was discussing real estate deals soon after Eric’s death, which shocked her. Under cross-examination, defense attorneys highlighted Katie’s role as a trustee of Eric’s estate and her involvement in hiring a private investigator. Katie testified that she believed Eric’s death was “suspicious” and she felt compelled to share her concerns with law enforcement.  Clint Benson, Eric’s brother-in-law and Katie’s husband, then testified about the Richins couple’s marital struggles in 2020, saying he and Eric discussed divorcing Kouri. Clint also described the actions he took to secure the home after Kouri’s arrest. Defense attorney Wendy Lewis emphasized the ongoing role of a private investigator before Kouri was arrested and charged as well as how evidence was gathered and shared with investigators. Eugene Richins, the father of Eric Richins, testifies in the murder trial of Kouri Richins on Monday. Credit: AP Photo/Spenser Heaps, Pool Eric Richins’ sister, Katie Richins-Benson, testifies in the trial of Kouri Richins on Monday. Credit: AP Photo/Spenser Heaps, Pool Summit County Sheriff’s Deputy Vincent Nguyen was the first law enforcement officer called to the stand. Prosecutors played his body camera footage from March 4, which showed Kouri telling officers she found Eric cold and unresponsive, her repeated expressions of shock and confusion, an emotional moment when Katie arrives at the home, and law enforcement asking about medications and Eric’s health history. Gene, sitting in the gallery, appeared emotional as footage from the morning of his son’s death played. He kept his head down and did not watch as the Richins family offered comforting touches. Defense attorney Alexander Ramos grilled Nguyen during cross-examination about what he did not do at the scene, including failing to search the kitchen or look for marijuana gummies.  Ramos stopped himself short, though, given that the jury had been listening to testimony for nearly nine hours, and the court went into recess for the day. Prosecutors said they plan to call additional first responders, paramedics and a crime scene technician to the stand on Tuesday. Body camera footage of the morning Eric Richins was found dead is played for the jury during the murder trial of Kouri Richins on Monday in Summit County’s Third District Court. Credit: AP Photo/Spenser Heaps, Pool The post Kouri Richins’ defense says unanswered questions will drive reasonable doubt appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less